Paper toy



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. T. GIBSON.

PAPER TOY.

Patented May 12, 1896.

' (No Model.)

W/T E8358. fwd.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. T. GIBSON.

PAPER TOY. I

No. 560,094. Patented May 12, 1896.

INVE/VTUH WITNESSES: ffii- CZ. a14- Eda/621 i 1. 6:35am. 6 M By W ATTORNEYS.

ANDREW B GRAHAM.PHOTO-UTHO.WASHINGTON no (No Model.) 3 SheetSSheet 3. E. T. GIBSON.

PAPER TOY.

Patented May 12, 1896.

INVENTOR Edward Z1 0263021,.

A fro/mm.

lV/T/VESSE ANDREW B GRAMM.PMGTOMTHQWASHINFIONJ C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARD TINKHAM GIBSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

PAPER TOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,094, dated May 12, 1896.

Application filed January 22, 1896. erial No. 576,399. (No model.)

To all whom, it incl/y concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD TINKHAM GIBSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper Toys, of which the following is a speci fication.

My invention has reference to an improved paper toy, which is to be printed on the lithographic press, cut by dies in certain parts, scored or creased for bending, and shipped in fiat shape to the purchaser; and the object of the invention is to provide a simple plan for the inexpensive construction of a substantial and thoroughly practical toy theater for children, and at the same time provide a plan of mechanical construction which may be utilized for the preparation of paper toys other than theaters.

The invention consists, first, of a continuous blank of paper from which the front, lat eral sides, stage-platform, and background to the stage of a toy theater may be produced by freeing certain portions of these said parts from the blank of paper by die-cuts, bending certain of these said parts on scored or creased lines, and locking the parts together in position second, of paper scene-shifts or scenery, which are used in combination with the theater, and, third, of paper figures representing actors, each of which is provided with a long strip extension projecting at a right angle to the erected figure and attached to the base of the figure, and which figures may be caused to move about upon the stage platform by manipulating the said strip extensions froin the side of the theater when the surface of the said strip extension is on the same plane as that of the figure and ma nipulating them from the back of the theater when the surface of the said strip extension is bent at its junction with the figure to form a right angle with the surface of the figure.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the anterior surface of a continuous blank of card-paper provided with the aforesaid die-cuts and scored or creased lines and from which blank of paper the edifice of the theater is erected. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the erected theater edifice. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the erected theater. Fig.

a vertical section on about line 4 4, Fig. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on about line a 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the scene-pieces. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of one of the actor-pieces. Fig. 9 is a detail View of another actor-piece. Fig. 10 is a detail view of a scene-piece,-and Fig. 10 shows such piece applied. Fig. 11 shows scenic pieces on a small scale adapted to be suspended from the top of the theater, and

Figs. 12 and 12 are perspective views of actor-figures.

The component parts of the edifice of my improved paper toy or theater, as I have denominated it in this specification, are, as I have hereinbefore stated, comprised on one continuous blank of suitable card-paper, as is shown byFig. 1. This blank is divided by the creased or scored lines A and B, so as to form three main partsnamely, a main or front part C and two side parts D and E. The front part 0 is provided with the two vertical and single horizontal continuous diecut lines 0 c c, which serve to free the portion of paper F embraced within the said lines from the adjoining portions, and the lower extremities of the two said vertical cuts are connected by a scored or creased horizontal line 0, which has the groove of the crease on the back surface of the paper-blank and thereby admits of the said portion F of the paper-blank being bent backward to a right angle on the said creased line 0 to form the stageplatform of the edifice. At the junction of the said vertical die-cut lines o and c with the horizontal out line 0 the die is arranged to cut a notch f and f in the two free corners of the said stage-platform F, and in the corners F and F thus produced in the stage-platform F the pin-holes f and f are provided. The object of these notches, corners, and pin-holes will become apparent and will be explained when I come to describe how the edifice is erected and its parts locked together.

The side parts D and E are alike in construction, excepting that the part D of the paper-blank is bent backward on the creased line A to form at a suitable angle with the front part C the left-hand side of the edifice or theater structure, while the part E is bent backward on the creased line B to form the right-hand side of the edifice. Near the outer edge of the side part D a slot (Z is provided, and in the same location on the side part E a slot 6 is provided.

I have hereinbefore explained that when the process of erecting the edifice is under taken the stage-platform F is bent backward on the creased line 0 to form a right angle with the surface of the front part 0 of the edifice and that the side parts D and E of the edifice are bent backward on the creased lines A and B, respectively, and I will now add that the location of the two said slots cl and e in the side parts D and E is such that the corner F of the stage-platform F maybe made to enter the slot (Z, and as the pin-hole f is so located in the corner F that it will occupy a position external to the outer sur-' face of the side part D when the corner F is inserted in the slot d the said corner F may be prevented from slipping out of the said slot by inserting a pin vertically in the said pin-hole f Similarly the corner F of the stage-platform F is made to enter the slot 6 in the side part E, and is secured in this position by a pin inserted vertically in the pinhole f While the said pins serve to prevent any outward displacement of the two said side parts D and E, the corners F and F of the stage-platform prevent any inward displacement.

1 have now explained how the front part, lateral side parts, and the stage-platform of my edifice or theater structure are obtained from the continuous paper-blank, and I will now explain how I obtain the parts that are required to form a background to the stageplatform. In the side part D, on a level with the horizontal die-cut line 0 in the front part 0, a horizontal die-cut line (1 is made, its length being equal to more than one-half the length of the stage-platform F, measured from side to side. This said die-cut line cl extends to the vertical creased line A, and is from this point continued vertically clownward by the die-cut line (1 to about onequarter of an inch below the level of the horizontal creased line 0' of the stage-platform F. From this point the die cuts ahorizontal line (I to a junction with a vertical die-cut line d, which vertical die-cut line (1' terminates at the anterior extremity of the horizontal die-cut line (Z the said die-cut line d being on a level with the aforesaid creased line a of the stage-platform F. The free extremities of these two said horizontal die-cut lines (1 and (Z are connected by a vertical creased or scored line (1, having the groove of the crease on the back surface of the card-paper blank. This creased line (Z admits of the portion of paper D which has been freed on three sides from its connection with the side part D being swung inwardly, and when the front part C, side parts D and E, and the stage-platform F have been adjusted and locked in position, as hereinbefore described, the said portion of paper D is bent inwardly on the creased line (I until it occupies in the edifice a position which is parallel with the surface of the front part 0 of the edifice. This serves to provide one half of the background that is required in the edifice at the back of the stage-platform, and the other half E is obtained in a pre cisely similar way by die-cut lines 6, e e c and e and creased line (2 in the side part E. In order that these two said halves D and E of the background may be secured in position, the stage-platform F is provided with two slots G and II, into which slots the tongues D and E having pin-holes D and E of the said background portions D and E, are respectively inserted and there confined by passing a pin through the pin-hole D beneath the surface of the platform F and another pin through the pin-hole E, though experience may demonstrate that a single slot G, in which both tongues may be inserted and confined by a single pin, will serve the purpose, and still further experience may demonstrate that the employment of pins may be rendered unnecessary by having a notch cut in each of said tongues at the junction of line 6 with 6 IVhile the surfaces of the lower free corners of the two said halves E and D of the background are thus confined in close contact with each other, the upper free corners may be confined in any suitable way, though I prefer the slit 6 in the portion E, into which slit the overlapping part of the portion D may be inserted. In order that the paper composing the side parts D and E of the edifice may be rendered stiff, I bend the vertical free margins on the creased line (Z and 6 At the points J J on the stage-platform the lower margins of the stage-background D and E are not adherent to the surface of the stage-platform F when the tongues D and E are locked in the slots G and H, and it is through this resultant crevice that certain of the actor-figures are manipulated from behind the background of the stage-platform. The construction of the actor-figures which are manipulated from this location is shown in Figs. 5, 7, 8, and 12 in the drawings.

Fig. 7 exhibits one of these actor-figures K as it is lithographed in the flat and freed from superfluous paper, and it will be seen that from the base-line K of the figure a long strip extension K of paper is projected downward. When in use, the actor-figure K is bent backward on the base-line K to form a right angle with the strip extension K as is shown in Vertical section in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is an anterior posterior vertical section of the background D, stage-platform F, actor-figure K, and strip extension K The construction of the actorfigures,which are manipulated from the side of the stage,

is shown by Fig. 9, which exhibits, freed from all superfluous paper, one of the actor-figures L, which is manipulated from the righthand side of the stage, (looking from before backward,) and it will be seen that from the lowermost lateral margin of the figure L a long strip extension L of paper is projected laterally at a right angle with the vertical line of the erected figure, the surface of the extension being on the same plane as that of the figure. The free extremity of the said extension L is broadened out downwardly below the base-line l by a projection L of its surface. By means of the strip extension L the figure of the actor L may be caused to move about upon the surface of the stageplatform by grasping the free extremity of the extension L between the fingers of the hand situated at the side of the stage-platform and on the outside of the theater edifice. The object of the broadening downward of the free extremity of the extension L by the projection L is to afford means whereby the actorfigure L may be caused to maintain an erect position on the stage-platform when the extension L is no longer supported by the hand, and to admit of this projection L being utilized for this purpose the side part E of the edifice is provided with Vertical cut recesses 6 which are adapted to receive and afford support to the said projection L and for the same purpose the side part D of the edifice is also provided with recesses (1 Fig. l is a front view of a vertical section of the stage-platform F and involved portion of the side part E of the theater edifice, exhibiting the actor-figure L maintained in an upright position on the stage-platform F by having the projection L of its extension L rested in one of the recesses e of the side part E.

The side part D of the theater edifice is provided with vertically-cut recesses 61 and d to afford support and maintain in position the scene-shifts or scenery-pieces which I provide for the left-hand side of the stage of the theater edifice, and the side part E is provided with similar recesses e e for the support of the scenery-pieces which are provided for the right-hand side of the stage.

The construction of my scenery-pieces is shown in Figs. l, 6, and 10, in which figures two of the pieces M and N are exhibited freed from all superfluous paper. The scene-piece M, Fig. 10, consists of a piece of paper having on the portion l\ which portion when the piece M is placed in position extends from the level of the stage-platform F vertically upward to the required height, the pictorial representation of a bush, a fence, or any desired adjunct to the scene desired to be produced on the stage-platform. From the lower border or base-line m of the said pictorial representation the piece of paper is at the outer side projected downward to afford an extension M whereby the said piece M may be detachably yet firmly supported in an erect position on the stage-platform by resting the extension M in one of the recesses d or e in the side parts D or E of the theater edifice, and to prevent any displacement from the position which the said piece of scenery M should maintain on the stage-platform the stage-platform is provided along its lateral margins with a recess f cut into the substance of the stage-platform at points which will fall opposite each of the said recesses d and e in the side parts D and E when the theater edifice is erected, and into the proper one of these said recesses f the extension M is passed. This is shown in sectional view in'Fig. 10. The scene-piece N, Fig. 6, only differs in construction from that of the justdescribed scene-piece M in having the portion I", on which the scenery is pictorially represented, extended to such a height above its base-line n as to render it advisable to provide means for the support of its upper extremity, and to provide this means for support I cut the vertical recesses 01 and e in the side parts D and E of the theater edifice and construct the said scene-piece N so that its vertical measurement between the lower margin of the extension N and the upper margin of the extension N shall be the same as the measurement of the distance between the bottom of the recess (1 or e and the bottom of the respective companion recess (Z or e and to still further afford support to the upper extremity of the said scene-piece N, I prefer to add a notch 97, in the scene piece and a strip extension N My improved paper toy can be used not only for the creation of a toy theater but for a large variety of attractive and inexpensive paper toys for advertising and other purposes, and while in this specification I have described the paper-blank from which the edifice of the theater is created as being provided with die-cut lines and creased or scored lines, it must be understood that when economy requires it the said paper-blank will be merely provided with indications for the necessary cuts and creases, and the purchaser himself will have to do the actual work of making these cuts and creases.

When the dimensions of the card of paper selected for the reception of the lithographic print of the set of actor-figures for a play are such as will not admit of the complete set being printed upon the said card unless the actor-figures, or some of them, are deprived of their long strip extensions which should extend from the bases of the figures, Iprovide the required extra space by dispensing with the said permanently-attached long strip extensions and in place thereof employ a short strip extension X, as shown in perspective view in Fig. 12, having two slits a," a), or suitable substitutes, which slits admit of a detachable long strip extension Y, Fig. 12, being detachably secured to the said short extension X when the actor-figure is required for manipulation on the stage-platform by inserting one extremity of the said long extension Y through the two said slits w 00.

As some of the actor-figures comprised in each set will have no active parts to perform,

IIO

but will remain stationary upon the stageplatform, I provide each of these passive actor-figures with a strip extension projected downward from the base-line of the figure to such distance as will readily admit of the center of gravity of the actor-figure Z (see Fig. 12*) maintaining a position posterior to the back surface of the actor-figure when the said figure is bent upon its base-line Z, so that its back surface forms a right angle with the said strip extension Z and the actor-figure is stood up in an upright position upon the stage-platform.

In some of the plays or scenes whichIshall provide for the herein-described toy or theater means will be required for suspending actor-figures and decorations in mid-air above the stage-platform, and in order that the edifice of the toy theater may possess the said means I provide the slot (1 in the uppermost margin of the side part D and the slot e in the opposite and uppermost margin of the side part E, in which slots may be rested the two extremities of a long strip B, Fig. 11, having permanently or detachably connected thereto such actor-figures R or decorations as are designed to be suspended in mid-air above the stage-platform. Similar slots c1 and e are also placed in close proximity to the vertical creased lines A and B to admit of a lithographed paper-card substitute, Fig. 11, for a drop-curtain, being supported at the front of the stage-platform during the intermissions between acts by resting the two lateral projections s of the said card S in the said slots (2 and 6 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A toy comprising a cardboard or sheet having a central portion and end portions foldable therefrom, the central portion being provided with a cut-out section bent to form a stage and the end portions having cut-out sections forming the back substantially as shown and described.

2. A toy comprising the cardboard or sheet having the central and end portions, the central portion being provided with a cut-out section forming a stage and the ends having slits entered by portions of said stage substantially as set forth.

A toy comprising the cardboard or sheet having the central and end portions each provided with cut-out sections forming the stage and back sections, the side portions having slits receiving portions of the stage and the stage having slits receiving portions of the back substantially as shown and described.

4. A toy comprising a cardboard or sheet having the central and end portions provided with cut-out sections forming the stage and back, the side portions and stage having slits through which portions of the stage and back sections protrude and holding devices en gaging said protruding portions substantially as set forth.

5. A toy comprisin g a stage and side pieces the latter having horizontal edges approximately on a level with the stage, and notches being provided in said horizontal edges and in the edges of the stage for the reception of scenic and player accessories substantially as set forth.

6. In a toy a theater formed of cardboard having intermediate and side portions, the intermediate portion being provided with a stage-section bent in and back and the side portions with back sections bent in and back all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. A toy theater comprising a blank having a stage-section and-a marginal portion, such section being disconnected from the blank on all sides except one and foldable to a plane at an angle to that of the blank wherebyto form therewith a theater-stage and a proscenium, substantially as shown and described.

8. A toy comprising a cardboard or sheethaving a central portion and end portions foldable therefrom, the central portion being provided with a cut-out section bent to form a stage, substantially as shown and described.

9. The combination with a toy comprising a cardboard or sheet having a central portion provided with a cut-out section bent to form a stage and having as a back for the stage a section which is only partially attached along its lower margin to the stage, of a figure having a rearwardly-projected extension fitted in the crevice existing between the stage and the unattached lower margin of the back, substantially as shown and described.

10. A toy comprising a cardboard or sheet having side wings and a cut-out section bent to form a stage, such section and wings being provided with interengaging portions, substantially as set forth.

11. In a toy theater, the combination with the blank, having central and end portions and having the stage cut from the central portion and the back out from the end portions and having slits in the side edges of the stage and in the portions of the sides from which the back is cut, and the scenery-sections extending between such stage and sides and fitted in the slits thereof, substantially as shown and described.

EDIVARD TINKHAM GIBSON.

IVitnesses:

CHAS. E. TAYLOR, INA GODFREY. 

